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'''The Singing Dogs''' was a musical recording project under whose name two 45rpm [[Single (music)|singles]] were released in the 1950s.
'''The Singing Dogs''' was a musical recording project under whose name two 45rpm [[Single (music)|singles]] were released in the 1950s.


The idea for the Singing Dogs came from [[Don Charles (Denmark)|Don Charles]], a [[record producer]] working in [[Copenhagen]], [[Denmark]] (not the same person as an English record producer also named [[Don Charles]]).<ref name=whitburn>[[Joel Whitburn]], ''Top Pop Singles 1955-2008''. Record Research, Milwaukee, WI, 2009.</ref> He made recordings of four dogs barking (their names were Dolly, Pearl, Caesar, and King), spliced them on [[reel-to-reel tape]], and arranged the pitches to the tune of the [[Stephen Foster]] song "[[Oh! Susanna]]". This was eventually released by [[RCA Victor]] as the [[A-side and B-side|A-side]] on a 7" single, with the [[A-side and B-side|B-side]] a [[List of musical medleys|medley]] of "[[Pat-a-Cake]]", "[[Three Blind Mice]]", and "[[Jingle Bells]]". The [[novelty record]] became a hit, reaching #22 on the [[United States|US]] [[Billboard Hot 100|Billboard Pop Singles]] [[record chart|chart]].<ref name=whitburn/> The disc eventually sold over half a million copies.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=dj8EAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA93&ots=R3iZgjtjBu&dq=Caroling%20dogs%20of%20Copenhagen&pg=PA93#v=onepage&q&f=false "The Caroling Dogs of Copenhagen"]. ''[[Life Magazine|Life]]'', December 19, 1955.</ref> In 1956, the troupe of dogs (with a fifth member, Pussy) were again recorded, yielding the single "Hot Dog Rock 'n Roll" b/w "Hot Dog Boogie". This recording is listed as being "directed" by Carl Weismann.
The idea for the Singing Dogs came from [[Don Charles (Denmark)|Don Charles]], a [[record producer]] working in [[Copenhagen]], [[Denmark]] (not the same person as an English record producer also named [[Don Charles]]).<ref name=whitburn>[[Joel Whitburn]], ''Top Pop Singles 1955-2008''. Record Research, Milwaukee, WI, 2009.</ref> He made recordings of five dogs barking (their names were Dolly, Pearl, Pussy, Caesar, and King), spliced them on [[reel-to-reel tape]], and arranged the pitches to the tune of the [[Stephen Foster]] song "[[Oh! Susanna]]". This was eventually released by [[RCA Victor]] as the [[A-side and B-side|A-side]] on a 7" single, with the [[A-side and B-side|B-side]] a [[List of musical medleys|medley]] of "[[Pat-a-Cake]]", "[[Three Blind Mice]]", and "[[Jingle Bells]]". The [[novelty record]] became a hit, reaching #22 on the [[United States|US]] [[Billboard Hot 100|Billboard Pop Singles]] [[record chart|chart]].<ref name=whitburn/> The disc eventually sold over half a million copies.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=dj8EAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA93&ots=R3iZgjtjBu&dq=Caroling%20dogs%20of%20Copenhagen&pg=PA93#v=onepage&q&f=false "The Caroling Dogs of Copenhagen"]. ''[[Life Magazine|Life]]'', December 19, 1955.</ref> In 1956, the troupe of dogs (with a fifth member, Pussy) were again recorded, yielding the single "Hot Dog Rock 'n Roll" b/w "Hot Dog Boogie". This recording is listed as being "directed" by Carl Weismann.


In 1973 RCA reissued "Jingle Bells" as a single, becoming a Christmas hit on virtually every radio format, since then the track has received frequent media exposure during the [[Christmas and holiday season]] although it appears its fame and popularity peaked in the 1970s.
In 1973 RCA reissued "Jingle Bells" as a single, becoming a Christmas hit on virtually every radio format, since then the track has received frequent media exposure during the [[Christmas and holiday season]] although it appears its fame and popularity peaked in the 1970s.

Revision as of 05:08, 5 November 2014

Top row: Pussy, Pearl, Dolly
Bottom row: King, Caesar

The Singing Dogs was a musical recording project under whose name two 45rpm singles were released in the 1950s.

The idea for the Singing Dogs came from Don Charles, a record producer working in Copenhagen, Denmark (not the same person as an English record producer also named Don Charles).[1] He made recordings of five dogs barking (their names were Dolly, Pearl, Pussy, Caesar, and King), spliced them on reel-to-reel tape, and arranged the pitches to the tune of the Stephen Foster song "Oh! Susanna". This was eventually released by RCA Victor as the A-side on a 7" single, with the B-side a medley of "Pat-a-Cake", "Three Blind Mice", and "Jingle Bells". The novelty record became a hit, reaching #22 on the US Billboard Pop Singles chart.[1] The disc eventually sold over half a million copies.[2] In 1956, the troupe of dogs (with a fifth member, Pussy) were again recorded, yielding the single "Hot Dog Rock 'n Roll" b/w "Hot Dog Boogie". This recording is listed as being "directed" by Carl Weismann.

In 1973 RCA reissued "Jingle Bells" as a single, becoming a Christmas hit on virtually every radio format, since then the track has received frequent media exposure during the Christmas and holiday season although it appears its fame and popularity peaked in the 1970s.

Years later, the American record producer Craig Huxley produced his own version of the Singing Dogs, renamed Top Dog. To date, he has recorded three albums, Howliday Favorites in Dog,[3] a favorite of Top 40 Radio and David Letterman,[citation needed] Slam Dunk'n Hoes[4] and Howlin' Classics - from Bark to Beethoven.[5] As of 2012, he is working on his fourth album, Patriotic Pooches, to be released during the 2012 election.

References

  1. ^ a b Joel Whitburn, Top Pop Singles 1955-2008. Record Research, Milwaukee, WI, 2009.
  2. ^ "The Caroling Dogs of Copenhagen". Life, December 19, 1955.
  3. ^ "Howliday Favorites in Dog - Top Dog : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. 1994-11-28. Retrieved 2012-09-21.
  4. ^ "Slam Dunk'n Hoes - Top Dog : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. 2007-09-04. Retrieved 2012-09-21.
  5. ^ "Howlin' Classics - Top Dog : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-09-21.

External links